Wet and wild fun

ALLEN — The water fight seemed unfair. Water guns and balloons against fire hoses and a water cannon but nobody seemed to mind Saturday at Marble Springs Campground.

When they took over six years ago owners Carl and Cyndi Ervin wanted to continue the annual event which pits campers of all ages against the volunteer firemen.

"(The firefighters) do a lot for us during the year and this is fun for them," Ervin said.

Spraying the kids as he was hit with a water balloon one fireman said "we look forward to this especially on a hot day like today."

"This is the one day a year when others than campers come in," Carl explained. "We do this for the whole community."

The 53 acre campground with 83 sites has plenty of room with its series of spring fed ponds and fishing lake. It also hosts company picnics, reunions, and other events.

The Allen Department roared into the park just west of the village with lights and sirens. With them a new Spartan pumper which will soon be finished and put in service.

Campers loaded water guns of all sizes and carried containers of water balloons ready for the fight which last almost two hours. Adults to little kids got in on the action and got wet.

There was no shortage of water as the trucks pumped from the spring fed swimming pond.

Carl and Cyndi, from Monroe, always wanted to own a campground in the area. The first attempt to purchase came in 1999 but that did not work out. Eight years later they bought it. "Nothing compares to this."